- Joined
- Oct 3, 2012
- Messages
- 63
I picked this up yesterday: (Sorry about the cell phone pics)
It is the new Columbia River M16-01S. The whole knife appears to be stainless except for the bushings, one of which is phosphor bronze, the other either nylon or teflon. It is a frame lock now instead of a liner lock.
The frame consists of two stainless slabs similar to many more expensive knives, as opposed to the 2 slabs and a thin liner like its rip-off cousin, the Gerber evo. The knife itself is thinner than the M16-01Z, and weighs about the same (maybe a little more) but feels more solid. The lock up on this knife is what sold it to me (I played with it a bit at a mall cutlery store before I bought it), I handled several other knives in the $20-$50 price range and none of them were nearly as solid as the 01S. I cannot stress how solid the lock up is. It feels like a fixed blade. There is no Autolawks or any other system like that, but it never feels like you would need it. The centering is perfect when closed after I tightened the pivot screw about 1/4 turn. It still flicks right open like you would expect an M16 to.
As far as how it compares to the M16-01Z (I have not owned a titanium or aluminum handled version), it basically takes everything good about that knife and seems to improve it. The blade steel is 8cr13Mov as opposed to the old AUS4, and the difference is apparent after a couple days use. It fits in the pocket a little better, and just feels rock solid for how small it really is.
The only bad points are that the blade tip appears to be ground a little thinner, with the new steel it might not be an issue but I noticed it right away when I had both knives out, and that there is still no factory option for tip-up carry. It is a definite improvement on an already good knife to make it a great budget EDC blade, especially for those who are looking for a more "socially acceptable" knife with a usable blade length. For about $20 online, I don't think you can get a better knife right now.
I saw the 01S, 12S (part serrated tanto), and the all black 01S in the store, I do not know if they make the 03 or 04 size knives in the all stainless framelock yet.
Oh, and "First Post". Hi everyone.
It is the new Columbia River M16-01S. The whole knife appears to be stainless except for the bushings, one of which is phosphor bronze, the other either nylon or teflon. It is a frame lock now instead of a liner lock.
The frame consists of two stainless slabs similar to many more expensive knives, as opposed to the 2 slabs and a thin liner like its rip-off cousin, the Gerber evo. The knife itself is thinner than the M16-01Z, and weighs about the same (maybe a little more) but feels more solid. The lock up on this knife is what sold it to me (I played with it a bit at a mall cutlery store before I bought it), I handled several other knives in the $20-$50 price range and none of them were nearly as solid as the 01S. I cannot stress how solid the lock up is. It feels like a fixed blade. There is no Autolawks or any other system like that, but it never feels like you would need it. The centering is perfect when closed after I tightened the pivot screw about 1/4 turn. It still flicks right open like you would expect an M16 to.
As far as how it compares to the M16-01Z (I have not owned a titanium or aluminum handled version), it basically takes everything good about that knife and seems to improve it. The blade steel is 8cr13Mov as opposed to the old AUS4, and the difference is apparent after a couple days use. It fits in the pocket a little better, and just feels rock solid for how small it really is.
The only bad points are that the blade tip appears to be ground a little thinner, with the new steel it might not be an issue but I noticed it right away when I had both knives out, and that there is still no factory option for tip-up carry. It is a definite improvement on an already good knife to make it a great budget EDC blade, especially for those who are looking for a more "socially acceptable" knife with a usable blade length. For about $20 online, I don't think you can get a better knife right now.
I saw the 01S, 12S (part serrated tanto), and the all black 01S in the store, I do not know if they make the 03 or 04 size knives in the all stainless framelock yet.
Oh, and "First Post". Hi everyone.
